Central Idea

God will begin again the formation of his people, and the people will respond in faith. 

[[ Note: English versification has been utilized for both arc and notes. ]]

What is the flow of ideas in these verses?

To answer this, we must first take a moment to consider the formation of Israel in the Old Testament. Certainly events like God's call and promise to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3), his provision of the child Isaac (Gen 21:1-7), and the growth of the people into a multitude in Egypt (Ex 1:1-7) were critical elements in the formation of Israel. Yet with these, the formation was clearly not complete. Rather, it was only in and after the Exodus, wilderness wanderings and entrance into the promised land that Israel was established as the people of God. (Hence 2:15 equates Israel's youth to the Exodus.)

With that considered, we turn now to speak of the flow of ideas in these verses. We find here two analogies intertwined together: the picture of a courtship/marriage relationship and the picture of a new wilderness wandering in preparation to enter a new promised land. The former analogy is seen in 14a and 15a and most clearly developed in the verses to follow our passage. The latter, is the focus of 2:14-15. God is ordaining a day when he will form his people anew through a process similar to before, but with different results.

"allure her...into the wilderness": Thus, he draws "her" to the wilderness--a place to learn dependence on God and walk by faith, not absent from trials, in preparation to enter the land God has prepared. As these verses look to the New Covenant people of God, the wilderness speaks of this world in general (i.e. even if a Christian lives in the modern state of Israel, he is still in the wilderness that 2:14 speaks of), awaiting the new heavens and new earth to enter.

"speak tenderly": While in this wilderness, God speaks tenderly to "her." This tender speech is all the Gospel glories and promises. Do you want to hear the tender voice of God? Read the New Testament or the countless passages in the Old Testament that point forward to what God has done through Jesus!

"give her her vineyards": It is then "from there" (a more literal translation of "מִשָּׁם" than the ESV renders)--from this wilderness filled with the tender speech of God--that God gives "her" her vineyards. This, I think, is us entering our Land--the new heavens and new earth. We see this in the ideas of property ("her vineyards") and festivity (vineyards provide wine).

"the Valley of Achor...for a door of hope": Next, we read of God's transformation of Israel's first failure as they entered Canaan to an entrance of hope (more on this below).

"she shall answer as in the days of her youth": And finally, this re-made people of God responds to him in dependance and faith (more on this below).

QUESTION THAT REMAINS: Why the "Therefore" to begin these verses?

We have already seen this pattern of the proclamation of judgment and punishment followed by promises of grace and restoration in Hosea (1:2-11). And so the devastating words of 2:6-13 are followed here (and in the verses to come) with expressions of great hope. Nonetheless, this does not answer the question at hand: Why do we find a "לָכֵן" ("therefore") here at the point of transition from future curses to future blessings? Please comment with your thoughts.

Notes on "allure" and "speak tenderly".

The word "allure" ("מְפַתֶּיהָ") is found six other times in the Scriptures, each time with the negative connotation of "to deceitfully entice to harm". Thus it is strange to see it used here in a positive way--the only possibility the context allows. Yet it is not strange to see it used with God as the actor, as seen directly in Jer 20:7 and indirectly in 1Kings 22:21 and 2Chr 18:20.

The phrase "speak tenderly" ("וְדִבַּרְתִּי עַל־לִבָּהּ") also yields some interesting cross-references. In Gen 50:21, we find Joseph speaking tenderly to his brothers in assurance of his favor toward them despite all the suffering he had endured due to their malice--a great parallel for what we find here. Additionally, we see other uses of this phrase in strikingly parallel situations in Judg 19:3, where we read of reconciliation between a husband and his faithless wife, and in Is 40:2, where God speaks tenderly to Jerusalem with gospel proclamation.

What is going on with the "Valley of Achor"?

This valley first received its name after Achan had brought "trouble" (the meaning of "achor") on Israel by stealing booty after the battle of Jericho.

And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. (Joshua 7:25–26)

Notice the elements of these verses: (1) There is great trouble on the people (God has turned his face away!) due to sin. (2) Achan and his family are brutally executed. (3) The Lord turns from his anger (and subsequently the conquest of the promise land is continued).

Thus (picking up from the discussion above), this passage is looking forward to an emergence of a re-formed people into the land of God--the land of promise. And as under Joshua's leadership, there is huge problem. God is angry because of our sin and requires a gruesome death as punishment. But this time, in the New Covenant, the death belongs to another--the willing Son of God, sent from the Father in love. And so truly the distasteful memory of the Valley of Achor is given anew as a great door of hope!

How is Israel's youth a positive reference point?

This may seem strange, as it is not difficult to think of many great sinful blunders made by Israel in the Exodus and wilderness wanderings. Nonetheless, we find a similar sentiment in Jer 2:1-2. The key to understand this, I think, is to look at the people comparatively. Were they sinful in the wilderness? Yes. But they got far worse. In the wilderness, at least, there was dependence and the constant need to look to God in faith for things as basic as food and water. And in the Exodus itself, the people did fear and trust God to put the blood of the lamb over their doorposts. (This sort of thinking is where Hos 13:4-6 would seem to lead us.)